The first phase of plans to regenerate the Goitside area of Bradford city centre is on course to be completed by March.

A report into the four-pronged project also reveals that work could begin on a second phase, which would give a new lease of life to a once-notorious street, by March next year.

In November last year Bradford Council agreed a way forward for Goitside, which involved four sites.

Working with Incommunities, the district’s largest social landlord, which also owns the two main sites, it was agreed to re-model a block of bedsits on Roundhill Place to provide 16 family homes. In addition, a U-shaped block of flats on Chain Street were demolished in June to allow 33 family homes to be built.

An update into the project describes how contractors are now on site as part of the £1.2 million scheme at Roundhill Place. A total of £375,200 of funding has come from the Homes and Communities Agency as part of its affordable housing programme, £100,000 from the Council’s empty homes programme, and the remainder from Incommunities.

Good progress is being made on the scheme and work is expected to be completed by March.

In addition the report goes on to state that the Council and Incommunities are involved in detailed negotiations with two potential commercial partners over the Chain Street part of the project. There is a realistic prospect that an agreement can be reached to allow development to start by March.

Funding of £230,400 has come from the HCA, and the Council has approved £1.2m in principle to assist in the development.

Meanwhile two Council-owned car parks are the third and fourth phases of the scheme.

Lower Car Park at Ashton Street will be redeveloped to provide an 84-bed extra care facility for the elderly. Members of the Council’s executive are expected to consider a report on this part of the programme in January, and a bid is also being considered to a Department of Health £200m pot towards the scheme.

Plans for Upper Car Park at Westgate are currently uncertain due to market conditions. This would see the site redeveloped to provide commercial units on the Westgate frontage with 16 apartments above and nine family houses.

David Shepherd, the Council’s assistant director for climate, housing, employment and skills, states in the report: “The preferred option would deliver 16 new houses through conversion, 74 new building houses/apartments and 84 extra care bed spaces. In addition 524 sq m of commercial use accommodation will be provided on the Westgate frontage and a new linear park running from Grattan Road to Wigan Street will be created.

“The new linear park would also provide a green link between the city centre and Manningham. The link comprises a landscape corridor with paths that allow circulation by pedestrians and cyclists.”

The report will be discussed by members of the Council’s regeneration and economy overview and scrutiny committee, when it meets on Thursday, November 29, at 5.30pm in City Hall, Bradford.